damp squib

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

damp′ squib′, [Brit. Informal.]

1. British Terms something meant but failing to impress or succeed.

• 1965–70

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

squib (skwib),  n., v., squibbed, squib•bing. 

n. 

1. Literature a short and witty or sarcastic saying or writing.
2. Literature, Journalism [Journalism.] a short news story, often used as a filler.
3. Rocketry a small firework, consisting of a tube or ball filled with powder, that burns with a hissing noise terminated usually by a slight explosion.
4. Rocketry a firecracker broken in the middle so that it burns with a hissing noise but does not explode.
5. British Terms [Australian.] a coward.
6. Rocketry an electric, pyrotechnic device for firing the igniter of a rocket engine, esp. a solid-propellant engine.
7. [Obs.] a mean or paltry fellow.

v.i. 

8. Literature, Journalism to write squibs.
9. Rocketry to shoot a squib.
10. to explode with a small, sharp sound.
11. to move swiftly and irregularly.
12. British Terms [Australian.]
    • to be afraid.
    • to flee;
      escape.

v.t. 

13. to assail in squibs or lampoons.
14. to toss, shoot, or utilize as a squib.

• origin, originally uncertain 1515–25

squib′bish, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

squib / skwɪb/ noun

1. a firework, usually having a tube filled with gunpowder, that burns with a hissing noise and culminates in a small explosion
2. a short witty attack; lampoon
3. damp squib ⇒ something intended but failing to impress

verb (squibs, squibbing, squibbed)

1. (intransitive) to sound, move, or explode like a squib
2. (intransitive) to let off or shoot a squib
3. to write a squib against (someone)

Etymology: 16th Century: probably imitative of a quick light explosion